The Patient Safety division of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) shares key risks emerging from review of serious incidents reported by the NHS to its National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) in the form of ‘Signals’.  This Signal is about the potential for harm if a patient ingests Vernagel.

Vernagel is a super absorbent, odourless white granular powder that is used to prevent spillages by solidifying liquids, in particular body fluids. In so doing the gel helps to avoid spillages of urine when bedpans or bottles are taken from patients and makes it more convenient and easy to dispose of. 

Up until May 2011, the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) had received 13 reports of patients who had attempted to eat or swallow the contents of Vernagel gel sachet. Two such reports resulted in the patient being transferred for specialist urgent care. A number of the incident reports also stated that the patient was confused or suffered a degree of cognitive impairment - to such patients the sachet may well be mistaken for a sachet of sugar or salt.

 
The Signal states that although the product is non-toxic by the oral route there is the potential for it to be activated by oral secretions and the gel could obstruct the patient’s airway.

 
The NPSA advises NHS organisation to:

• Ensure that the instructions in the products’ data sheet are adhered to and that particular attention is paid to risk assessing its use in relation to individual patient/ client needs.
• Although this Signal specifically refers to Vernagel, organisations should also consider other substances which may harm patients if ingested, e.g. alcohol hand gel that patients may have access to.

 
Please see link for details.